I selected Florida State QB E.J. Manuel for the Bills at eight, with the backup selection being LSU pass rusher Barkevious Mingo. Here’s a look at the Draft Day Challenge results in terms of the percentage of contestants that picked Manuel or Mingo.

3% – E.J. Manuel
3% – Barkevious Mingo

Not surprisingly, Syracuse QB Ryan Nassib is one of the more popular choices of Bills fans in the M&T Bank Draft Day Challenge at 21%. As I said in my mock draft, I don’t think you can rule him out.

8. Buffalo Bills: LSU DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo makes perfect sense for the Bills. They do not have a pass rusher at the linebacker position, and new DC Mike Pettine, formerly of the Jets, feature scheme multiplicity with athletic players who can align in different spots. Mingo flashed explosive traits, and the kind of closing speed you cannot teach. He’s a work in progress, not yet close to a finished product. He did not show elite body flexibility, with the ability to bend the edge. He needs an NFL weight room. But you put on the Clemson tape, and you see the kind of burst and speed that can impact games.

Mingo is a talented pass rusher, but young in the game and needs polish when it comes to the run game and dropping into coverage. His potential however, is likely to make him a top 10 pick. For more on Mingo check out our draft profile on the LSU pass rusher in our Draft Profile Tuesday morning on Buffalobills.com.

NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock was asked specifically about the direction the Bills could or should take with the eighth overall pick. He’s not a fan of the value on the board and Buffalo’s positional needs, feeling they don’t match up. So here is his best solution for them.

“I think they’re in a little bit of a tough spot,” Mayock said. “There is obviously a whole quarterback conversation that has to be held. And I’m not a big believer that there is a quarterback worthy at that spot. Now Buddy Nix might disagree with me. It could be Geno Smith, who I don’t think is a fit. It could be Matt Barkley. It could be Ryan Nassib. But to me, they’re not fits.

“So if you’re not going to take a quarterback at eight and you don’t have a chance to trade down, to me they have an offensive line need. I’d love to see them get a tackle and move Cordy Glenn to the right side or inside. I think it would help two spots if you could get a left tackle.

“But at eight, I don’t think you’ll get a left tackle unless you’re willing to trade up. So sitting there, I mentioned (guards Chance) Warmack and (Jonathan) Cooper. Either one of which I’m good with at 8.

“I don’t think there is a wide receiver at eight. Initially I thought about Tavon Austin there. He’s the most explosive offensive player in this draft. The more I thought about t I thought you’ve already got Leodis McKelvin to return punts. You have C.J. Spiller at tailback who can split out and do some of those things. So as much as I like Austin, I’m not sure he’s a great fit there. So I think you’re kind of stuck.

“If it’s not the quarterback, you’re looking at the best offensive lineman on your board or an edge rusher. With Mario Williams on one side, Mark Anderson coming back from injury, and Chris Kelsay retired, you’ve got room for an edge rusher. So a Barkevious Mingo or somebody like that, that wouldn’t surprise me either.”